The TCU High School Investor Challenge, offered by the LKCM Center for Financial Studies, began four years ago with eight local students and 11 the next year. Last year, the program expanded across Texas to draw 33 students. This year's 51 students make up the largest class to date.

The students came from Houston, San Antonio, Midland, Amarillo, Austin and all points in between, including of course the Metroplex.

They arrived Sunday and were treated to dinner at Joe T. Garcia's, moved into the dorm and then began their studies Monday, learning everything from diversification theory and the capital asset pricing model to the financial calculator and time value of money.

Dinners, movie nights, game night and an "Amazing-Race" type game help beat the stress of being in a classroom on a sunny day. But the rest of the time they are up at 7:00 to go to classes and learn/train, study, eat lunch at the university dining hall and prepare for their presentations.

The high school seniors go back home Friday and will report monthly on the progress or lack thereof of their $1 million virtual portfolio. They will present their outcomes at a banquet in the spring, with an eye on earning college scholarships. The TCU high School Investor Challenge also counts as a class credit for those who go on to attend TCU.

Special thanks to sponsors Fidelity Investments and McGraw-Hill Irwin.